Area students commit cause to film

But what Bashant did say about the film is that is dramatic, it is "a very realistic situation," and that it is not based on a true story of a specific person.

"It presents the material in a way that allows the [viewer] to encourage young people not to drink and drive," he said.

Bashant said that Reel Productions has never been involved in productions of this nature, and that he was inspired to create a TVspot and film encouraging young people not to drink and drive after noticing the negative influences in mainstream media.

"In many movies, reckless behavior with expensive machinery is glamorized," Bashant said. "We've made a valiant effort to encourage the opposite type of behavior."

Bashant also said that while Reel Productions has not yet made more TV spots or documentaries about drunk driving, the company plans to produce more in a series.

"It is so important to produce these on a regular basis to constantly be dynamic," he said.

Each production takes a great deal of commitment, Bashant said. During the tapings, several outside organizations contributed their time and materials, including Colonie EMS; Empire Ambulance Service; Inferno Pizzeria; Hot Tomatoes in Pittsfield, Mass.; St. Mary's Hospital in Troy; Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Mass.; and Albany Regional Eye Surgery Center in Latham.

Noble said he worked for two days on the last production, the first day working from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next morning. But for Noble, the experience working in film was worth the time.

For other students involved, the experience was worth even more than just being around cameras.

Sixteen-year-old Michael DeRuscio Jr., who worked as a grip on the crew, said that for him, the experience was so rewarding because of the people he met while working on the project.